Various vehicle recall notices have been issued this week from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Lexus and Volvo.

 

Audi has extended a recall notice to include A4, A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 models manufactured from April 2011 to May 2015 which may have a defective auxiliary heater element in the air conditioner.

 

If the heater element overheats there may be smoulder damage or even a fire as a result.

 

Audi Australia will make contact with known affected owners (VINs found here) to arrange for the heater elements to be replaced and the air conditioner control unit to have its software updated.

 

A recall notice has been issued for 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class and 2018 E-Class vehicles (VINs found here) which were sold between March 1, 2018, and August 30, 2019.

 

The vehicles in question may be fitted with lock nuts with possible production deviation which could potentially break causing the steering to lock. This would increase the risk of an accident and injury occurring to vehicle occupants and other road users.

 

Mercedes-Benz has also extended a previous recall notice to include 2008-2011 C-Class 204 and 2009-2013 R-Class 251 passenger cars which were sold between January 7, 2008, and August 31, 2013 (VINs found here).

 

These new vehicles are due to have their faulty Takata airbag inflators replaced. For those who have been living under a rock, as Takata airbags age, are exposed to high temperatures or humidity, thay are at an increased risk of the airbag inflator propellant degrading. This can result in the metal inflator housing rupturing and expelling metal fragments into the vehicle potentially causing serious injury or death. Faulty Takata airbags need to be replaced as soon as possible.

 

Owners of affected vehicles for both recalls are expected to contact their preferred Mercedes-Benz dealership to arrange to have the issues rectified free of charge.

 

Also affected by the Takata recall scandal are the following Honda vehicles (VINs found here):

 

2003-2009 Honda Accord Euro

2009 Honda City

2001-2005 Honda Civic

2002-2006 and 2008-2009 Honda CR-V

2003-2007 and 2009 Honda Jazz

 

These vehicles are due to have their replacement Takata airbag inflators replaced. Owners who are unsure whether their vehicle needs an airbag replaced can visit the industry-supported website established to combat the Takata scandal.

 

Multiple recall notices have also been issued by Hyundai, the first is for 2018-2019 Kona 1.6T vehicles which were sold between April 20, 2018, and September 11, 2018 (VINs found here).

 

It appears that during assembly of the vehicle, the front brake tube may not have been fitted correctly allowing it to come into contact with the exhaust system which may affect braking performance or cause a fire to start.

 

Also recalled were 2013 Hyundai Veloster (FS) vehicles (VINs found here) which may have had software installed on the engine management unit (ECU) which may cause premature ignition, which can result in the engine stalling and potentially a fire starting.

 

If the engine suddenly stalls when the vehicle is at high speed, this can increase the risk of a crash or a fire.

 

In both cases, Hyundai Australia will rectify the situation free of charge by having affected owners return their vehicle to an authorised Hyundai dealership.

 

A small number of Toyota vehicles (VINs found here) have been recalled including:

 

2019 Camry Hybrid

2019 Corolla Hybrid

2019 RAV4 Hybrid

 

It has been found that some brake booster pumps may have been manufactured improperly which may cause the brake assist function to stop operating whilst driving which could cause multiple warning lights and messages to illuminate, and/or audible chimes may sound.

 

Braking assist could be lost completely after several brake pedal applications, causing an increase in vehicle stopping distances and increasing the risk of an accident and injury occurring.

 

Toyota dealerships will contact known affected owners to arrange to have the vehicle repaired free of charge by their preferred Toyota dealer.

 

A number of 2019 Lexus ES300h (AXZH10) and UX250h (MZAH10) vehicles (VINs found here) have also been afflicted with the same issue with a similar remedy offered by Lexus dealerships.

 

Finally this week, the following Volvo vehicles have been recalled (VINs found here):

 

2014-2018 S60

2017-2018 S90

2015-2019 V40 & V40 Cross Country

2014-2018 V60

2017-2019 V90 Cross Country

2014-2017 XC60

2016-2018 XC90

 

An issue has been detected which sees the engine valve potentially leak and cause the engine intake manifold to melt or deform. Should this occur the engine may experience reduced power which increases the risk of an accident, injury or fire hazard.

 

Known affected owners will be contacted by Volvo. In the meantime, if owners notice any unusual engine operation, such as the engine management light being lit, engine interruption or lack of power they should contact their dealer.